Molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs in regulating cancer cell radiosensitivity

Biosci Rep. 2019 Aug 28;39(8):BSR20190590. doi: 10.1042/BSR20190590. Print 2019 Aug 30.

Abstract

Radiotherapy is one of the main modalities of cancer treatment. However, tumor recurrence following radiotherapy occurs in many cancer patients. A key to solving this problem is the optimization of radiosensitivity. In recent years, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which affect the occurrence and development of tumors through a variety of mechanisms, have become a popular research topic. LncRNAs have been found to influence radiosensitivity by regulating various mechanisms, including DNA damage repair, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, cancer stem cells regulation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and autophagy. LncRNAs are expected to become a potential therapeutic target for radiotherapy in the future. This article reviews recent advances in the role and mechanism of lncRNAs in tumor radiosensitivity.

Keywords: apoptosis; cancer; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; lncRNA; radioresistance; radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Autophagic Cell Death
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA Repair
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells* / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells* / pathology
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / metabolism
  • RNA, Neoplasm* / genetics
  • RNA, Neoplasm* / metabolism
  • Radiation Tolerance*

Substances

  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Neoplasm